Dsm-firmenich – From feed to immunity: a focus on fish and shrimp health
Nucleotide Supplementation: Boosting Immunity and Recovery in Aquaculture
During disease states and injury, the rapid cell proliferation required for cellular immune responses and tissue healing leads to nucleotide depletion. Nucleotides are the basic building blocks for the synthesis of DNA, RNA, ATP, and key coenzymes involved in essential metabolic processes. The cells of the immune system and the gastrointestinal tract are those most affected by shortfalls in the supply of nucleotides. Nucleotide synthesis is an energy intensive process that uses multiple metabolic pathways across different cell compartments and requires a variety of carbon and nitrogen sources. Moreover, nucleotide levels in diets have been declining in recent years due to a shift in feed formulations from marine to vegetable ingredients. To address this, dietary supplementation with nucleotides can be beneficial, particularly under conditions of rapid growth, stress, or disease. Nucleotides are the building blocks for essential cellular processes and their supplementation helps spare energy costs and optimize the function of rapidly dividing tissues like the gut and immune system. A highly purified nucleotide source, such as Rovimax®, has been shown to improve gut health, accelerate healing after injuries, and significantly enhance (up to 30%) both innate and adaptive immune responses in fish and shrimp*. This translates to higher survival rates when faced with pathogens. For example, studies have shown that Rovimax® supplementation increases resistance to bacterial diseases by over 20% in seabass against Listonella anguillarum and over 40% in tilapia and shrimp against Streptococcus iniae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus, respectively*.
How Vitamins Support Optimal Immunity in Aquaculture
Vitamins essential for the generation of energy reserves necessary to mount immune responses and play specific and vital functions within the immune cell population. To set the best nutritional foundations for optimal aquaculture production we provide our Optimal Vitamin Nutrition™ guidelines (OVN®).
Conclusion
Immunity is a complex topic, but it is key to supporting a robust animal against a range of biological, physiological, and environmental stressors. Ensuring optimum vitamin level with OVN® is fundamental and even suboptimal levels can lead to reduced health*, performance, and welfare. During periods of stress or increased disease risk, aquatic animals need additional nutritional support to maximize survival and growth performance. For this extra boost, Rovimax® delivers biologically available nucleotides quickly and directly to the gut with minimal energy investment, for maximum benefits in aquatic animals. Acting in concert, an optimal vitamin intake ensures production animals have a robust immune function that enables performance and survival in challenging conditions.
*According to dsm-firmenich in vivo feeding trials.
Read full dsm-firmenich FeedTalks article here: From feed to immunity: a focus on fish and shrimp health (dsm.com)